Twelve Republicans and four Democrats have been named to a legislative task force studying alternatives for covering the thousands of people currently on Arkansas’ compromise Medicaid expansion.
House Speaker Jeremy Gillam and Senate President Jonathan Dismang on Monday named their members to the panel created last month to study the future of the state’s “private option” program. Under the private option, Arkansas is using federal funds to purchase private insurance for the poor.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson proposed the task force as he called for lawmakers to continue the program through the end of next year. The Legislature last month approved reauthorizing the private option through June 30, 2016.
The task force is required to issue its recommendations by the end of this year.
Dismang’s appointees are:
- Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers
- Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock
- Jason Rapert, R-Conway
- David Sanders, R-Little Rock
- John Cooper, R-Jonesboro
- Jim Hendren, R-Gravette
- Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis
- Terry Rice, R-Waldron (who serves on Dismang’s behalf)
Gillam’s appointees are:
- David Meeks, R-Conway
- Reginald Murdock, D-Marianna
- Justin Boyd, R-Fort Smith
- Joe Farrer, R-Austin
- Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville
- Michelle Gray, R-Melbourne (who serves on behalf of House Majority Leader Ken Bragg, R-Sheridan)
- Deborah Ferguson, D-West Memphis (who serves on behalf of House Minority Leader Eddie Armstrong, D-North Little Rock)
- Kim Hendren, R-Benton (who serves on Gillam’s behalf)
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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